C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

First Time for Everybody

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 07:09 PM
  #1  
Axial's Avatar
Axial
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 462
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
Default First Time for Everybody

So, I've been lurking around here for quite some time now, and I thought I'd join in on the fun.

As a student, my first car was 2002 Jetta GLS, but the transmission gave out. After it gave out three more times, it was decided that we should bag it. So, I struck a deal with the folks: I get a car I want, and I slowly buy it off so that when I graduate from college, it's mine to drive on my way out the door; I had planned on doing that with the Jetta then upgrading to a C6 somewhere down the road, but hey, silver linings.

Searched the usual sources for awhile; saw several cars in relatively good shape with low miles, but always with something wrong, i.e. wobbly engine mounting, cracked targa top, headlights stuck up, automatic (), etc. Stumbled across the Cooper Corvettes, one of your supporting vendors, website and saw exactly what I was searching for: an LT-4. That weekend, I checked out the condition and mechanicals, went for a spin and was pretty much sold. Three days and seventeen large later, I'm driving home with nothing less than a Corvette.

Unfortunately, the night we brought it home saw the worst storm of the summer, downing power lines and flooding my street. A small log disguised as a pile of leaves left a sizable nick in the paint underneath.
I would also mention that a week later, the master cylinder went belly-up on me (wasn't apparent during inspection), but Cooper's took care of it nicely. Stand-up bunch of guys, they take care of their customers. Very knowledgeable, sociable, solid workmanship. If you're in the NOVA area, they are the go-to guys if you don't have the time to do your own wrench-work.

Obligatory pics:














Apart from the heater core, which is just now starting to show signs of wearing out, she drives perfect and is otherwise fully operational. No funny business or odd sounds, still has her dual-mass flywheel, and as of today, just over 80,100 miles. I look forward to the day I take ownership of her title from the old man.

Thank you guys for looking, and thanks for being such a tremendous resource for research and trouble-shooting.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 07:14 PM
  #2  
mikeremax's Avatar
mikeremax
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 3
From: Radcliff Ky
Default

Congrats
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 07:21 PM
  #3  
CRUZNC4's Avatar
CRUZNC4
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 175
From: Decatur IL
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Nice Vette!!!
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 07:26 PM
  #4  
I’m Z one's Avatar
I’m Z one
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 243
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
Default

You said $17k with 80k miles?
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 08:03 PM
  #5  
Axial's Avatar
Axial
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 462
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
Default

It was actually $16.5 sticker, but yeah, just under 80,000. I wasn't looking at the miles as much as I was looking at how it ran and what shape everything was in. The most banged-up features are the weather seals, but they don't leak and they are still soft. The one and only previous owner of the car ordered it with zero perks; it's a pretty bare-bones LT-4, but to me that just means there is less to go wrong. Apart from that red boot, it's all stock.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 08:04 PM
  #6  
gears's Avatar
gears
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 848
Likes: 4
From: Tulsa,Ok
Default

Welcome and I like your choice in color and year..
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 08:44 PM
  #7  
96GS#007's Avatar
96GS#007
Race Director
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Leader One
You said $17k with 80k miles?
Congrats, but holy sheet, I hope they kissed you when they were done
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 08:49 PM
  #8  
AirForceOne!'s Avatar
AirForceOne!
Drifting
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 14
From: Nampa Idaho
Default

Was a bit much$$$, but congrats, nice looking vette!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 09:01 PM
  #9  
Axial's Avatar
Axial
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 462
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
Default

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by 96GS#007
Congrats, but holy sheet, I hope they kissed you when they were done
It was a bit on the high side (KBB quoted $13k), but they stood behind the vehicle and that turned out to be worth it. A pain-free experience is sometimes worth the extra dough when you're on a schedule.

Last edited by Axial; Sep 10, 2012 at 09:05 PM. Reason: Added KBB value.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 09:14 PM
  #10  
corvetteronw's Avatar
corvetteronw
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Congratulations and let's hope you don't get any snow this winter.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 09:44 PM
  #11  
H P Bushrod's Avatar
H P Bushrod
Moderator Emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Nice LT4! Welcome to the forum.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 09:59 PM
  #12  
JeffnSharyn's Avatar
JeffnSharyn
Advanced
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville TN
Default

Congratulations & Welcome!!

Reply
Old Sep 10, 2012 | 11:32 PM
  #13  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
mazdaverx7
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
Default

very nice!! looks like an extremely clean car!!
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2012 | 09:11 AM
  #14  
QCVette's Avatar
QCVette
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Liked
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Default

Congratulations.

Love the LT4's
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2012 | 03:22 PM
  #15  
jesters94's Avatar
jesters94
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 779
Likes: 10
From: O'Fallon MO
2016 C4 of the Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
Default

Good looking vette you have there!
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2012 | 03:30 PM
  #16  
kimmer's Avatar
kimmer
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,381
Likes: 66
From: SF bay area C.A.
C4 of the Year Finalist
Default

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To First Time for Everybody





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:50 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE